JERSEY CITY -- Ten months into his office, Councilman Michael Yun is looking for a raise. The councilman, who has been representing Jersey City Heights since July 1, Yun asked that council salaries be raised from $35,000 to $75,000 and increase in salary for their aides from $15,000 to $40,000.

This would put Jersey City council members and their staff more in line with salaries paid to elected officials in the largest New Jersey Cities. Council members in Newark received $85,000 a year – although they have also asked for an increase recently.

In smaller cities like Hoboken, council members receive salaries in the low $20s and do not hire aides.

Under Yun’s proposal the council president would see a salary jump from $36,000 to $80,000. The council president in Newark earns about $92,000 annually.

Nothing is written in stone, since the proposal is a suggestion, and not yet something that has been presented formally to the Jersey City Council.

The change would need approval from the state legislature that currently has salaries for aides limited to $15,000 for Jersey City. – By Al Sullivan